This study of the Qur’an arises from an interest in a pressing contemporary issue, the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims (’the Ummah and the Other’). This text explores how the Qur’an comments on this relationship as it changed in the course of Muhammad’s ministry. Particular attention is paid to the portrayal in the Meccan ’punishment-narratives’ of a fascinating and complex triangular relationship between God, the powerless and persecuted believing community with Muhammad at its centre, and the unbelieving Meccans who rejected Muhammad’s preaching.nbsp ; The text raising questions aboutnbsp ;the possible contemporary relevance of this analysis, focusing firstly on discussions about the appropriate models for Islamic society today, and secondly on dialogue between Christians and Muslims. This book presents a detailed and illuminating analysis of many important Qur’anic themes and passages, and offers a coherent and original account of significant developments within the thought of the Qur’an as a whole. (Source Routledge)

Table des matières

Preface Acknowledgements Translation and Transliteration Outline

Introduction

General Objections to this Study

The Study of the Qur an by Non-Muslims

Orientalism

Recent Critical Theory and the Study of the Qur’an

Specific Questions on this Study’s Approach to the Qur’an

The Qur’an as the Principal Source for this Study

Studying the Qur’an without Reference to the Hadith

Atomistic and Thematic Approaches to the Qur’an

The Chronology of the Qur’an

A Question of Terminology : Believers and Unbelievers

The Punishment-Narratives : Preliminary

Considerations

Previous Studies

Narrative Criticism

A Note on the Analysis of the Punishment-Narratives

The Punishment-Narratives : the Meccan Period

The Early Meccan Period

The Middle and Late Meccan Periods

The Threat of a Temporal Punishment

God as the Sole Agent of Punishment of the Unbelievers

The Expansion of the Role of the

Messenger in the Middle and Late Meccan Periods

Indications in the Middle and Late Meccan

Periods of the Complexity of the

Messenger’s Situation

Excursus : The Qur’anic Understanding of God’s Attitude to the Unbeliever

Medinan Developments

A Threat Fulfilled but Transformed

Between the Hijrah and Badr

Badr

After Badr

The Believers as Instruments of the Divine Punishment

A Narrative Discontinuity

The Godward Movement of the Messenger and the Believers

God and his Messenger

God and the Believers

Concluding Comments

Appendix : The Qur’an and the Sirah Afterword 1 : Mecca and Medina : The Two Paradigms in Contemporary Islamic Thought Afterword 2 : Some Comparativist Biblical-Qur’anic Reflections Arising from this Study Bibliography Index of Qur’anic Passages Index of Biblical Passages General Index